Newspaper selling apparatus



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1..

E'. ANTHONY. NEWSPAPER SELLING APPARATUS.

Patented Jan. 3, 1888.

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(No Model.) 5 SheeAs-Sheet 2..

E. ANTHONY. NEWSPAPER SELLING APPARATUS.

No. 376,021. Patented Jan. 3, 1888 I a l w I fizz/aw? N. Pmns. Fhnln-Lilhographnr. Waahingion. 0.0.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' (No Model.)

HANTHON'Y. NEWSPAPER SELLING APPARATUS.

No. 376,021. Patented Jan. 8, 1888.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4..

E. ANTHONY. NEWSPAPER SELLING APPARATUS.

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NEWSPAPER SELLING APPARATUS. N0. 376,021.

Patented Jan. 3, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDVVYN ANTHONY, OF LONDON, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND.

NEWSPAPER-SELLING APPARATUS.

$PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,021, dated January 3, 188 8. Application iiled June 23, 1887. Serial No. 242,242. (No model.) Patented in Englandd'uly 10, 1886, No. 9.035.

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWYN ANTHONY, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at 7 New Square, London, in the county'of Middlesex, England, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for the Automatic Sale of Newspapers and Periodicals, (for which I have applied for Letters Patent in GreatBritain, No. 9,035, July 10,1886;) and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to apparatus for-the sale of newspapers and periodicals without the aid of an attendant, a coin or coins corresponding to the price of the newspaper or periodical being simply deposited in an opening or openings provided for its ortheir reception and the newspaper or periodical automatically exposed so thatit may be withdrawn by the purchaser.

In carrying out my invention as applied, for example, to the sale of newspapers, I employ a stationary receptacle (either oblong or of any other convenient shape) divided into a series of compartments for the reception of the newspapers to be sold, each compartment containing one and only one newspaper. Oompletely covering the face of the aforesaid receptacle is a species of revolving or traveling shutter or band, which may be either endless or made capable of'uncoiling from one roller onto another or of simply passing over a roller or rollers or other suitableguiding-bodies. The

shutter or band has an opening therein just the size of the front ofon'e of the said compartments, so that a newspaper can be withdrawn from whichever compartment the said opening faces, but from no other compartment, or (when the shutter or band is not an endless one) the opening in the shutter or band may be dispensed with, the newspaper being withdrawn from the compartment left uncovered immediately below the bottom of the shutter or band. The shutter or band is acted on by a weight or spring or other suitable device in such a manner as to tend to move in one direction, but is retained stationary by a catch or any other suitable device until the deposit ofthe required coin in an opening provided for its reception releases the catch or other suitable device and the shutter or band is moved by the weight or spring or other suitable device the required distance, after which its motion is again arrested by the catch or other suitable device until another coin is inserted, and so on in succession until the supply of newspapers is exhausted, the coins descending into areceptacle below, whence the money may be withdrawn at intervals.

When the apparatus is designed for the sale of penny newspapers, the catch or other suitable device is so arranged that the shutter is moved a distance equal to the distance between two compartments of the receptacle each time that a penny is deposited; but in the case of newspapers of a higher price-say, for example, one penny half-penny, two pence, threepence, &c.two, three, or more coins have to be deposited before the traverse -of the shutter or band permits a newspaper to be withdrawn.

Provision is made for automatically indicating when the stock of newspapers in the receptacle has been exhausted.

In order that the said invention may be per- 'fectly understood, I shall now proceed more same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l of theaccompanying drawings represents a vertical section of a portion of an apparatus for the automatic sale of penny newspapers constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is asectional plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken at right angles to Fig. l. ofthe back portion ofthe apparatus with some ofthe parts removed. Fig. 4is afront elevation, drawn toa reduced scale, showing a number of apparatus arranged side byside, those indicated byway ofexample being for the sale ofthe following penny newspapPrs-viz., The Daily Telegraph, Standard, Daily News, Daily Chronicle, Morning Advertiser, and Morning Post-and' for a three-penny newspaper, the Times. Fig. 5 is a plan and Fig. 6 a side elevation, both corresponding to Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a vertical section, drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 4, 5, and 6, illustrating a modification of the catch apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, also adapted for the sale of penny newspapers; and Fig. 8 is a plan of the same with a portion of the upper casing removed. Fig. 9 represents a vertical section of the apparatus for the sale of a threepenny newspaper. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are diagrams illustrating further modifications.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, A A A A A A are a set of stationary receptacles appropriated, for example, to the sale of the Daily Telegraph, Standard, Daily News, Daily Chronicle, Morning Advertiser, and Morning Post. Each of these receptacles is divided into a series of compartments, a a, for the reception of the newspapers to be sold, each compartment being of such a size and shape as to contain one and only one newspaper. The front of each compartment may be either equal to the width of the folded newspaper, as shown in the drawings, or to the length of the folded newspaper, if preferred. Completely covering the face of each receptacle A is a traveling shutter, B, which is fitted to guides in the sides of the receptacle and extends upward, suitably guided at 13', along the upper part of the receptacle, overa roller, G, (which maybe provided with suitable teeth, 0, engaging with apertures c in the shutter,) below which there is suspended from the shutter a weight, D. This weight is such that were the shutter free it would draw the shutter down at the rear, thus raising it at the front, uncovering the compartments, and exposing the newspapers contained therein. The shutter is, however, normally held stationary by a catch, E, which may consist of alever mounted on a center or fulcrum, d, in a connection with the main framing, the fore extremity, e, of which lever, suitably weighted at e, engages with one of a series of apertures, ff, in the shutter, the space between two apertures corresponding to the distance between two compartments, a a, while the rear extremity of the lever cai rics a tray or plate,e'.

g is an opening in the upper part of the easing A of the apparatus for theinsertion of the coin, the price of the newspaper. This opening leads to a chute, g, the lower end ofwhich is situate immediately over the tray or plate 0 of the catch E. The weight of the coin,acting on the extremity e of the catch, turns the catch on its center or, fulcrum (I, thus lifting its fore extremity, 0, out of the aperture f, in which it was engaged. The weight D then draws the shutter along until the next aperture fcomes opposite the extremity e of the catch, and the coin having fallen into a cash drawer or receptacle, F, below, thus relieving the rear extremity, e, of the catch, its fore extremity, e, enters such aperture. This motion of the shutter has raised the bottom h thereof above the top of the lowermost filled compartment, (1, and the newspaper which it contains may then be withdrawn. The fore extremity, e, of the catch being engaged in the said aperturcf, the shutter is held stationary until the catch E is again released on the insertion of another coin, when the shutter is again moved to uncover the compartment next immediately above, and so on in succession until the uppermost compartment is reached and the stock of newspapers is exhausted.

In the drawings, Fig. 4, I have represented the Morning Post receptacle as completely full and the Daily Telegraph receptacle as empty, the other receptacles for penny newspapers being partly full.

For the convenience of refilling the receptacles the case of compartments a a belonging to each receptacle is by preference made portable and self-contained, so that the empty case may be withdrawn bodily at the side (for which purpose a door, G, is provided) and a similar filled case substituted therefor. A door is also provided at H in each receptacle for the facility of gaining access to the catch or other suitable device.

In order to indicate when the stock ofnewspapers has been exhausted a flap,i,is hinged to the top of the uppermost compartment, so as to be retained in a horizontal position when the compartment contains a newspaper, (as assumed in Fig. 1,) but to fall into a vertical position, and thus display the words All sold, as shown in the case of the Daily Telegraph re ceptacle in Fig. 4, when the last newspaper hasbcenwithdrawn. Theindicatormay,however, be placed in a different position and actuated by the descent of a rod or bar, to which it may be connected, falling into a notch in the shutter, the said notch being so situate as to correspond to the time when the uppermost compartment has been uncovered, orany other suitable arrangement maybe adopted for the purpose.

It will be obvious that the catch apparatus may be greatly modified in practice. I have shown in Figs. 7 and 8, by way of example, another modification, which may be adopted, designed for apparatus for the sale of penny newspapers. In this case, in lieu of the catch E engaging with apertures in the shutter, itis made with a projection, f, which engages with one or other of two arms, e e, of a lever, E, except when the extremity e of the lever E is acted on by a coin deposited in the opening 9. The roller 0, over which the shutter passes, in the present example is not toothed; butin connection therewith there is arranged a toothed roller, 0, the teeth 0 of which engage with apertures c in the shutter, and this roller C is moreover connected by gearing 12 with the lever E in such a manner that the said lever and the shutter will move in unison. Assuming' the projectionfofthe catch E to be in engagement with the arm a of the lever E, the descent of the coin onto the tray or plate 0 of the catch E has the effect, by tilting the said catch, of releasing the lever E, and under the action of the weight D the shutter will be moved the distance between two compartments, a a, or until the arm e" of the lever E arrives opposite the projection f of the catch hausted.

E, when (as the extremity e of the catch E has been relieved of the weight of the coin) the pro ection f will engage with the said arm 6 and arrest the motion of the lever E, and con-,

sequently of the shutter, until the catch is operated by the descent of another coin, when arm 6* of the lever E will be released and the shutter again moved, the motion beingin turn again arrested when the lever E has performed a semi-revolution, and soon in succession until the s'upply of newspapers has been exon the axis of the roller 0 there is secured a ratchet-wheel, I, with which engages an ordinary pawl or detent, 1, to prevent the motion of the roller in the wrong direction. When the apparatus has to be reset at the time of replenishing the receptacles, it will be necessary temporarily to throw the pawl or detent 1 out of gear. Thismay be conveniently done by the act of opening the door H, the pawl or detent being connected by a chain, is, to the door, so that the pawl or detent will be in or out of gear, according as the door is closed or open.

Fig. 9 illustrates aconvenient arrangement of catch which may be adopted in the case of a newspapersuch as the 'Iimcs, the price of which is threepencealthough obviously other forms of catch may be adopted in carrying out my invention. In this example the device is of the type illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 as adapted for penny newspapers, the difference being that for a three-penny newspaper siX arms, e e e e e e, are-required on thelever E, instead of two arms, as in the case of a penny newspaper, the shutter being caused to travel the distance between two compartments, (1 a, by three increments of motion corresponding to three distinct operations of the catch by the'insertion of threeseparate coins. Assuming the projectionf of the catchE to bein engagement with the arm 6 of thelever E, the de positof the first coin allows the lever E to move the distance between arms 6 and e", the deposit of the second coin allows the lever E to move the distance between arms 6 and e", and the deposit of the third coin allows the lever to complete the semirevolution to a when the compartment will have been uncovered to allow the newspaper to be withdrawn. Similarly when another newspaper is required the lever will be moved the distance between arms e and 6, arms e and 6 and arms c and and e by the successive descent of the three coins.

The Times receptacle is shown at A in the general views, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and in that example is represented as full in Fig. 4.

If the price ofthe newspaper be an odd number of half-pence, then thelever E should carry at its rear two arms, 6 e, (see Figs. 10 and 11,)

instead of only one, and the surfaces through which the coins pass should be arranged so that the pennies fall first on the arm eand afterward on the arm 0, (thus producing two the other, 9*, for the half-pence.

oscillations of the lever E,) while the halfpence fall only on the arm 6", and so produce only one oscillation of the lever E.

In Fig. 10 two distinct money-openings and chutes are shown-one, g, for the pence, and In Fig. 11

pence and half-pence are alike placed in the same opening 9, the distance K'K being so arranged that the pence will pass along K 1-, while the half-pence will fall through K 1". In both cases the same sum of money (provided the coinsare put in one at a time) will produce the same number of oscillations of the lever E, whether pence or halfpence, or a mix ture of both be put in. For example: One penny or two half-pennies will produce two oscillations. One penny and a hall penny or three h'alfpence will produce three oscillations. Two pennies and a half-penny or one penny and three half'pence or five half-pence will produce five oscillations, and so on.

The number of arms carried by the lever E (not shown in Figs. 10 and 11) will, as before, depend on the price of the newspaper. Thus if the price beone and one half pence, it must have two groups of three arms each. If the price be two and one-half pence, two groups of five arms each, and so on. Often, too, it will be convenient to arrange the gearing so that one complete revolution of E (instead of half a one, as shown in the drawings) shall cause the shutter or endless band or equivalent thereto to move the required space. Of course both in Figs. 10 and 11 the arm 0 must be bent or shaped or perforated so as to allow the slot for the'half-pennies to pass by it. Another way of producing a similar result is to arrange the money-chute and lever E so that the coins remain on the lever until they are thrown oft by its motion, and to so poise it that it shall not move until the required weight (and there fore number) of coins have been deposited.

Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating a modification in the arrangement of the shutter or band in relation to its carrier-roller and the operatingweight, the other parts of the mechanism not being shown in the figure. According to this modification the aperture 0 in the shutter or band B, and the teeth on the roller 0 or O for engaging in such apertures, are dispensed with, and the shutter or band Bis fastened to the rollers O at s, so as to be capable of coiling round it. The weight D, in lieu of being attached to the shutter or band,may then be suspended from the roller O by one extremity of achain or cord, 2, the opposite extremity of which, after passing round the roller 0, is attached to such roller. The weight Dcauses the roller 0 to rotate when permitted by the catch,

IIS

their equivalents, and suitable mechanism whereby the deposit of a coin or coins (as the case may be) causes motion in the said shutters or their equivalents.

Having now particularly described and as certained the nature of my said inventiomand in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. The combination of a series of stationary compartments for containing newspapers or the like, a traveling shutter or band covering said compartments, a coin-receptacle and intermediate holding devices between thereeeptaele and the traveling shutter adapted to be operated by the weight of the coin to allow the shutter or band to automatically uncover a compartment, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus for the automatic sale of newspapers and. periodicals, consisting of a stationary receptacle divided into a series of compartments containing the newspapers or periodicals to be sold, a traveling shutter or band to cover the compartments, a weight to move the shutter to uncover the compartments containing the newspapers or periodicals, a locking device to hold the weight out of action until thedeposit ot' the required coin or coins which liberate the locking device and allow the weight to move the shutter or band a sufficieut distance to expose the newspaper or periodical, substantially as hereinbetore described.

3. An apparatus for the automatic sale of newspapers and periodicals, consisting of a stationary receptacle divided into a series of compartments containing the newspapers or periodicals to be sold, a traveling shutter or band to cover the compatments, a weight to move the shutter or band, a catch to hold the band, and a weight adapted to be released by the descent of the required coin or coins, substantially as hereinbefore described.

at. The combination, in an apparatus for the automatic sale of newspapers, of a series of compartments for containing the newspapers and a traveling shutter adapted to cover the same and to be automatically operated by the dropping of a coin to move intermittingly to uncover at each step a compartment to allow the newspaper therein to be withdrawn, substantially as described.

5. In combination, the stationary compartments a, for holding the newspapers, a traveling shutter covering the same and adapted to be automatically operated by the dropping of a coin to uncover the said compartments, and a flap arranged in the top c0 mpartment, adapted to be operated by the withdrawal of the last paper toindieate that thepapers in that series have been exhausted, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDW'YN ANTHON Y.

\Vitnesses:

EDWARD \VALKER CAREW, RICHARD HEMING,

Solicitors, 3 BcrkeZeySireet, Gloucester. 

